Notices are published
each Wednesday to alert the public regarding state agency rule-making.
You may obtain a copy of any rule by notifying the agency contact person.
You may also comment on the rule, and/or attend the public hearing.
If no hearing is scheduled, you may request one -- the agency may then
schedule a hearing, and must do so if 5 or more persons request it.
If you are disabled or need special services to attend a hearing, please
notify the agency contact person at least 7 days prior to it. Petitions:
you can petition an agency to adopt, amend, or repeal any rule; the
agency must provide you with petition forms, and must respond to your
petition within 60 days. The agency must enter rule-making if the petition
is signed by 150 or more registered voters, and may begin rule-making
if there are fewer. You can also petition the Legislature to review
a rule; the Executive Director of the Legislative Council (115 State
House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, phone 207/287-1615) will provide you
with the necessary petition forms. The appropriate legislative committee
will review a rule upon receipt of a petition from 100 or more registered
voters, or from "...any person who may be directly, substantially and
adversely affected by the application of a rule..." (Title 5 Section
11112). World-Wide Web: Copies of the weekly notices and the full texts
of adopted rule chapters may be found on the World-Wide Web at: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rcn/apa/.

AGENCY: 99-346
- Maine State Housing Authority
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 24, Home Energy Assistance Program
Rule
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2001-398
CONCISE SUMMARY The Home Energy Assistance Program ("HEAP") Rule is
being amended to: (i) allow a customer and a fuel vendor to enter into
a payment plan for the purchase of home energy at a price other than
the cash price, provided the plan is offered to customers to assist
them with a lower cap price or otherwise manage the cost of home energy;
(ii) change the date by which subgrantees must start taking applications
for priority applicants and households with a direct heating cost to
August 1st of each year; (iii) shorten the time by which a subgrantee
must certify or deny applications; and (iv) clarify provisions of the
rule.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 17, 2001
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Peter Wintle, EHS Division Director
AGENCY NAME: Maine State Housing Authority
ADDRESS: 353 Water Street, Augusta, ME 04330-4633
TELEPHONE: (207) 626-4600 (voice)
TTY: (800) 452-4603

AGENCY: 10-144
- Department of Human Services, Bureau of Family Independence
RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: Ch. 351, Maine Child Support Enforcement
Manual
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2001-409
CONCISE SUMMARY: The rule implements the changes made to child support
law in P.L. 2001, c. 264, adds the updated Child Support Table and reflects
to recodification of family law from Title 19 to Title 19-A.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 21, 2001
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Debby Willis, Legal Counsel, Division of Support
Enforcement and Recovery, Department of Human Services, Bureau of Family
Independence, 11 State House Station, Whitten Road, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (207) 287-5095
TTY: (207) 287-6948 (Deaf/Hard of Hearing)

AGENCY: 17-229
- Department of Transportation
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 105, Rules Regarding Suspension
from Bidding
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2001-410
CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed rule will ensure that the Department of
Transportation may prevent contractors that employ irresponsible business
practices from bidding, as general contractors, on state road construction
projects. Suspended contractors will be permitted to bid as subcontractors.
The Rules Regarding Debarment of Contractors, contained in Ch. 102,
effective October 2, 1985, already allow the Department to disqualify
unprincipled and dishonest contractors from bidding, as general or subcontractors,
on road construction projects administered by the Department of Transportation.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 26, 2001
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Richard N. Hewes, Principal Attorney
AGENCY NAME: Maine Department of Transportation
ADDRESS: 16 State House Station, Legal Division, Augusta, ME 04333-0016
TELEPHONE: (207) 287-2681

AGENCY: 10-144
- Department of Human Services, Bureau of Family Independence
RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: Ch. 331, Public Assistance Manual (TANF)
- Benefit Increase
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2001-412
CONCISE SUMMARY: Beginning 10/1/01, this rule:
* Increases the maximum TANF benefits by 5% of the maximum payments
that were in effect on January 1, 2001.
* Adds a second income test to applicants.
* Adjusts the maximum amounts that are collected for recoupment of overpaid
benefits.
* Adjusts the income charts and budget worksheets associated with the
benefit increase and second income test.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2001
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Rose Masure, TANF Program Manager, Department
of Human Services, Bureau of Family Independence, 11 State House Station,
Whitten Road, Augusta, Maine 04333
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (201) 287-5089
DEAF/HARD OF HEARING TTY: (207) 287-6948